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122 his countenance, than if he had been all the time in profound sleep. But the time had come for him to speak, and what could he say ? Bill had fol lowed his counsels to the letter, and had exhib ited the very fruits from them that he had an ticipated and desired. Should he now rebuke him? That would not do. Should he applaud his conduct ? That would not do from a Chris tian. Should he remain silent? That would be a tacit sanction of all that William had done. But say something he must, and that something must be extemporized; so he began, in a very cool tone, that might bo taken for the composure of religion, or the composure of grat ification : “Why, William, I’m astonished at you! Very true, but very equivocal. “I don’t think, in any vieto of the case, that his saying simply that he could whip you, justi fied you in attacking him ” “But, Uncle, I saw that he was mad, .and bent upon picking a quarrel with me, or hacking me before all the company, and I thought that as I would have to fight or back out, I’d best take a running start on him; for the first blow in a fight is half the battle, they say.” “Well, that is true—that is—arguing upon worldly principles; and supposing fighting in anv case to be justifiable ; for by that course you are certain to get some ad van Howev er, worldly principles are not always to be trust ed; indeed, never to be trusted when they come in conflict with religious principles. The longer I live in the world, the more dissatisfied I become with its ways and notions. Four or five months ago, I would have given advice that I would not now give—at least without very considera ble qualifications. Vigor of body, strength of constitution, unflinching courage— moral cour age—are certainly great things—great things in many points of view—but then, like all good gifts, they may be abused. And here, William, let me give you a caution. You have a very good apology (our friend Moore thinks) for en gaging in those contests with Black. Now, take care that your victories over him do not lead you to seek contests merely to show your prow ess—merely for the praise of victory, and the terror of your companions. Oh I of all the dis gusting things in this world, a mere bully—-a man who forces his fellow being into a fight with hiui, merely for the vile fame of whipping him, is the most disgusting. I have seen such men, and I have despised them. They pretend to take as insults what they know was meant in friendship or in fun. They wantonly assail feel ings, play insufferable pranks with men, and then assail them for speaking harshly of what they say they meant as innocent sport. They take occasion from a man’s dress, his features, his person, his carriage, to worry him into resis tance of some kind, and then flog him for resist ing. Can anything better mark a devil than such conduct as this ? Now, William, I don’t blame you for fighting, (that is, upon worldly principles) under the circumstances; but Ido blame you for going to such places —not for going to Mr. Haralson’s, for he is a very worthy man, and has a very worthy family, but for going there in Court times. I have been there often, and I dont remember ever to have seen one of his sons in the crowd of Court days, in my life. And I blame you for running a race, at such a time and place.” - TO BE CONTINUED. [Written for the Southern Field and Fireside.] ALIENS, OE THE RECOVERED TREASURE. A PRIZE TALE. BY MAUD MOKETON. CHAPTER IX. “ A tale more strange, ne’er graced the poet's art, And ne’er did fiction play so wild a part." The silver moon was riding high in the dark blue dome of a winter’s sky, and lighting far and near, with the distinctness of day, the peace ful scene of a country home. In the very heart of a little wood of beeches and largo water oaks, there slept in this fair moonlight the very pearl of cottages. Honey-suckle, red rose, and sweet briar had held its little porch, entangled in summer’s prime, in a perfect net-work of loveli neßS —but the flowers fading and the leaves fall ing, had left its stripped tendrils woven, with almost symmetrical precision, by nature’s unerr ing fingers, into a frame of picturesque beauty, andmaking soft twilight, even in mid-day, through the window of the neat little parlor it shaded. The stars twinkled with a trembling lustre; the air was freezing, but pure and clear. A red light was gleaming from a window, whose half-drawn curtains suffered its beams to fall, in puny rivalship of the glorious orb above, upon the neatly kept paths and shrubbery, that adorn ed the front. All was hushed and still. Not even the loud baying of the faithful watch dog broke the silence; and no indications, save that twinkling light from the cottage window, gave evidence of life within. Two figures glided out of the adjacent woods, and passing out in the clear moonlight, stood in the midst of this quiet scene. The outlines, of their forms were perfectly defined, and their clear tones distinctly audible on the light air. In the neat parlor of this little cottage, heed less of the cold without, or, it may be, enjoying the warmth of the fire, more from a sense of con trast, sat a couple, in silent contemplation of the vivid embers and the sparkling blaze that sent forth a benign influence upon their features, and cast over the little room a flickering gleam of cheerfulness and comfort The large sack of gray wood which the female was knitting so busily, fell from her fingers as she paused in her work' and with a listening, intent look, exdlaimed to her companion: “ I say, Nathan, that was surely a child’s voice. I heard it distinctly again, and the knock, too.” “ Nonsense, Rachael; it was only the wind, or the bleating of some poor little houseless sheep, that startled you. You are grown so nervous since we laid our little Ruth to rest in yonder church yard, that you tremble at every sound." “ Nathan, as sure as I am alive, that was no wind, or bleating of sheep, either. It is certain ly the voice of some child in distress. Bring a light, husband, for my heart cannot beat so quiet ly by this warm fire while I know that any creature is exposed to the stinging cold of such anight” “No need for a light, if go you must,” said the kind-hearted man, “for the moon is shining as bright as day, and you could see to read by it, if yon chose. Let me go with you, and you can bring in the little sheep, and the wind, too, if you have a mind to give them a warming and a welcome to our cozy little corner,” added lie, playfully, as he moved before her and opened the door without. Such a picture never before met their gazo, as the bright light of the moon in the unclouded sky fell upon a little figure standing out in the clear moonbeams. The small form was muffled 'TMM 801T9HnU VXS&D JIM® VX&3SBX9S. in skins of some wild animal, with a hood of the same drawn over the head, from which peered eyes as sparkling as diamonds. Just as the door opened, the gliding form of an Indian boy flitted before them; his features and dark brown hue distinctly visible in the clear light, and .with the noiseless step of a deer, receded in the distance, i Startled by so unexpected an apparition as the little muffled figure presented, Mrs. Todd, with a scream and a retreating step, caught hold of her husband’s hand, as the thought of some wild, strange animal alarmed her excited feel ings. The bright eyes followed her, and a bright smile flitted over the little human face. No fear was perceptible, but free, frank glances flashed upon the astonished couple. “ Who are you, what do you want, what is your name ?” came, in quick succession, from their lips. “ Aliene is my name. Yula brought me here, and told me to knock, and call, and you would take care of me.” “ Who is Yula? and where do you come from ?” said the kind hearted Rachael; “but come in to the fire, you will perish out here in the cold.” They brought the little girl into the cozy warm parlor, and standing her on the hearth, took long and leisurely survey of her. Her large liquid eye almost blazed in its brightness; her soft cheek was like the lining of an Indian shell; and her red lips, like a split pomegranate blossom, seemed ready to burst with the exu berance of its vivid coloring. Her dark hair lay in soft rings upon her forehead, and her deli cate fingers were entwined upon her breast, in an attitude of appealing innocence and helpless ness. Her strango costume, composed entirely of the skins of some wild animal, enveloped her from head to foot, and the little sandals of the same presented a novel and striking appearance. But for that soft, glancing, baby face, she might, indoed, have been mistaken for somo wild and curious animal. Drawing her to her side, Mrs. Todd took off the little fur hood, and a perfect shower of soft, dark hair escaped over her neck and shoulders. Unfastening the strings, and removing the rude ly formed cloak, the little girl stood in a simple dress of colored stuff, evidently the work of some careful mother's hand, but worn and faded.— Her slender ankles and symmetrical limbs evi denced her claim to gentle blood; and the clear glow of her. soft cheek bespoke her Saxon origin. “ What is your name, little one ?” said Mrs. Todd, casting her arm around her and pres sing her lips to her brow. “Aliene.” “And who do you live with ? and who is your father ?” “I live with Yula. He brought me here; he is good to me.” The warmth of the fire seemed to act as a soporific upon tho little creature, and the bright eyes grew softer, tho white lids began to close over them, and the dark lashes swept the clear cheek with an indescribable softness and beau ty, as, yielding to its influence, she began to nod and doze upon the sofa. “Let us put her to rest for to-night, and to morrow may develope the mystery. Poor little thing, I wonder if she is hungry; I see she is tired.” Taking her gently up, Mrs. Todd carried her into her own room, her husband holding a light, and laid her on tho little cot their own lost dar ling had occupied. Tears sprang to the eyes of the bereft mother, as she saw the little head,with its wealth of waving hair, resting ou the whito pillow so lately pressed by her angel child ; find bending over her, tears and kisses flashed successively upon her young brOw, like shower .and sunshine in an April sky. Withdrawing softly, the couple returned to their sitting room, to expatiate upon the strange event, and to conjecture who and what the little stranger was, who had so singularly and quietly come in upon them. Reason naturally pointed to some neighbor’s child, who had lost its way, and been attracted by the glancing light from the parlor window —but then the strange cos tume, and the figure of the retreating Indian boy—besides they knew all their neighbors for miles around, ana the little wanderer belonged not to them. Many were the surmises, vague the conjectures, and wild tho imaginings of the puzzled coupie, as they sat over the midnight fire, and mused, and conjectured, talked and reasoned upon this strange advent into their little world of home. With morning came tho same thoughts, the same conjectures, and inquiries were made in every direction, with the hope of elucidating the mystery. Neighbors flocked in to see the little stranger, hear her singular story, and to specu late upon her probable antecedents. All they could learn was her name, “Aliene.” She talked of papa,and mamma, and little sister, but in terms so vague and broken that no clue to her histo ry was furnished—no thread to the tangled skein of her life was gathered. “Yula” was ever on her lips, and her fearlesness of danger argued an acquaintance with the freedom of forest life. Hers was a bright, happy spirit, that naught could depress but unkindness; and sorrow and care glanced from her young heart, as water drops are dashed from the wings of a bird. Long before tlieir inquiries had ceased, her clinging and affectionate nature had entwined itself with firm adhesion about the hearts of her kind protectors. Her glad young voice made melody once more in their saddened home, and awoke again to love and joy their simple and caressing natures. CHAPTER X. “His warm but simple home, where he enjoys With hor, who shares his pleasure ami his heart, Sweet converse.’’ Years sped gaily over the head of the light hearted little Aliene, in her new home, with her adopted ties—and though an unraveled mys tery hung over her former life, it in no way checked the hilarity of her nature, or chilled her ardent temperament. The truly womanly nature of the kind-hearted Mrs. Todd delighted in the training of so gentle a spirit, and though her accomplishments were limited, her practical attainments, in the partial eyes of her adopted parents, were indeed won derful. Who could knit with such marvelous swiftness and accuracy? who embroider with such grace and dispatch? What though she had no master to draw out, with “lengthened sweetness,” the thrilling tones of her sweet voice ?—the wild bird, with gushes of melody from its tiny throat, was her daily instructor; and her music-loving soul, in silvery notes, thrilled and warbled, and floated out in soft swells of nature’s music. What though no mas ter had trained into precision her dancing step? No snow flake fell more noiselessly than her light tread —no fawn bounded more fleetly and gracefully through its native woods than her airy step through her happy home. Whose flowers glowed in softer beauty and luxuriance ? Whose vines were trained more gracefully —or reward ed, with a richer return, the fair fingers which trailed their drooping tendrils? Whose bird gave back sweeter notes than the little captive which hung suspended in the embowered porch, or fluttered upon her small finger, picking the seed from her fostering hand ? Happily fleeted away her young life; and the fading visions of the past floated across her memory like some beautiful but broken dream. Like a shattered mirror, the fragments reflected images of beauty, but distorted and confused. Sometimes a tone, or glance, or word, touched a hidden spring of memory, and awoke a mo mentary recollection —like a flash of lightning in a clouded sky, illumining for a moment the shadows that overswept her memory, but lost again before they could be seized and formed into a complete, unbroken picture. She had now attained her fifteenth year; and the loveliness of womanhood was dawning upon her, in all its bewitching purity, and gentleness, and grace. Her ardent and affectionate nature responded, with overflowing exuberance, to the wealth of fond affection lavished upon her —and her extreme beauty and simplicity of manner won for her att involuntary homage. One morning in early spring, Mr. and Mrs. Todd were sitting at breakfast, in the little parlor, their favorite resort for meals and social hours. The soft air was laden with the breath of the fragrant honey-suekle that clustered over the little porch—the birds twittered in the trees —the sun glanced br'ghtly through the open windows, and all nature wore an inspiriting, and cheerful aspect. Aliene, as fresh and glow ing as the roses among which she loitered, in the garden below, glinced her sweet face in at the open window, and smilingly nodded her morning salutation. Mr. Todd looked up suddenly from an open letter, and said, “Rachael, read this. Frank is coming to make us the visit so long expected. He will be here to-mcrrow, or the next day.” “Oh, I am so happy, it has been so long since I have seen one of my own family, that my heart yearns to see again the little fellow I was so fond of.” “Well, make a room comfortable for him, and I will ride over to the next town, and meet him myself.” “What does my brotier say of himself and the children ? Is there any prospect of seeing him again ?” “No, I think not; lie says Frank is very anxious to make a visit mt to the far West; and as he has not been strorg this spring, he thinks the travel will be an advantage to him, and a source of happiness to you.” “ I had never hoped for so much pleasure again; I shall be too happy to welcome him.— Aliene, come here, my love; your cousin Frank is coming to make us a visit.” . Aliene’s bright face again glanced in at the window. “Cousin Frank? how delightful! I have nev er seen him, but I am sure I shall love him—that is, if he is any way like you, dear mother. Oh! what pleasant walks ant ridgs we shall take! — How I long to welcome him!” “Well, go out, Aliene, and gather some fresh flowers to decorate the noms, and be sure to tell Simon to send in sone of that clear, amber colored honey, and do mike Dinah give us her whitest and sweetest loaf—and, stop, Aliene, you must look your prettiest—tie up your floating curls, and with your blue ribbons and white muslin, I know our little vood nymph will be admired, as well as loved.” Aliene bounded from the room with a light step and glad heart; and presently her voice was heard out in the garden, giving vent In song to the irrepressible happiness of expectancy and delight. The flowers were gathered, and disposed gracefully in their china vases, through the pleas ant parlor—the clear honey rose in hoaps of crystalized gold upon the glittering glass, and the white bread lay in appetizing array upon tlie snowy cloth. Aliene, with her dark hair cast loosely away from her soft brow—her floating ribbons, and the graceful drapery of whito muslin that fell in folds around her light and rounded form, was the very impersonation of loveliness and purity. With eager expectation, her eyes sparkling, her cheek glowing, and her elastic step moving with airy grace down the little path before the door, she impatiently awaited the expected arrival. And Frank Drayton came—his pleasant man ner, his ready smile, and waim expressions of affection, soon won for him a place in the hearts of the little homo circle; and before the happy party separated for the night, it seemed as if he had always composed one of their number. Days passed in the enjoyment of the simple pleasures of their quiet life. The walks and drives were without alloy—the pleasant ram bles through the garden and grounds—the long chats with the happy Aliene, in the early morn ing hour—the cheerful meals —the loving asso ciation of kind hearts —all impressed Frank with their charming influences. One evening the family were assembled in the little embowered porch. Frank musingly looked up, saying: “Aliene, Aliene—Aunt, where did you find that sweet name ? I have never heard it but once before, and then in connection with a very painful association. I thought before I came here that your little girl was called after the sweet character in sacred Scripture, “ Ruth.’ ” “Our Ruth has said Mrs. Todd, with tremulous tones, and tearful eye; “but Aliene is our little earthly treasure, giving back to our hearts the gladness and joy that left us when our darling Ruth spread the wings we had not seen, and wafted her flight to the golden por tals of Heaven, and we turned our wearied step to the shadowed earth again.” “Pardon me, dear Aunt, I meant not to touch a chord that vibrates so painfully. But where did you gather so musical a sound ? I don’t think that ‘a rose by any other name will smell as sweet.’ ” “I like her name, myself, Frank, and have never heard it before.” “Aunt Rachael, there is a mourning mother at my home, one of ray father’s parishioners, whose life was once cheered by just such a sunbeam as gladdens your home. She mysteriously dis appeared one bright summer day, years ago, and the gloom of her departure and uncertain fate has hung like a heavy cloud over the hearts and home that were once made happy and mirthful with her young spirit and joyous presence.— Her name was Aliene.” “Well, Frank, go on; tell mo about her,” said Mrs. Todd, with flushed cheek and trembling voice. “What became of her? —the child, I mean.” “Oh! it is a painful story —the child was never found —the mother’s heart and health were completely broken —the father struggled man fully on—but he has never been the same person since. They have two other children; but they seem sources of pain and anxiety, rather than of pleasure. My father often speaks of the sor row he is often called upon to soothe there, with a reverence such sorrow alone can call forth.— His sacred office, as minister to the afflicted and suffering, brings him in close contact with life’s bitterest scenes. The name itself brings even to my heart and ear, who only knew the story by hearsay, a mournful music and a strange inter est.” Mrs. Todd did not reply; but casting glances of perturbation and anxiety towards her hus band, silently pursued her knitting—while her cheek flushed with agitation and her heart fluttered with a painful foreboding. Before they retired for the night, the subject was resumed by the anxious couple. “Wife, we should certainly be remiss in our duty to ourselves; ofir child, and others, who may be more painfully involved in her fate, if we allow a selfish consideration to seal our lips, or a supineness to deaden our efforts to reach the truth of this suggestion. We must make some enquiries of your brother relative to the sorrowing parents, for whom he expresses such sympathy and interest.” “ I know you are right, husband, and yet my heart misgives me. Suppose we should be obliged to give up our darling ?” “We should be but doing our duty, Rachael; and remember, wife, that in proportion to your suffering would be the happiness of the bereft mother, if our suspicions should be confirmed.” “Well, Nathan, write to my brother, and meanwhile, do not let us cloud our own happi ness, or overshadow the [brightness of our dar ling’s heart, by even a whisper of suspicion.— It may be, after all, only a fancy.” The letter was written, but with no intima tion of any mystery over their Alieno’s history. In due time, came the response. Her disappear ance—the agony of her parents—the suspicion of Indian vindictiveness—the hope that an early death had rescued her from savage malignity, the only gleam of comfort that now cast a cheering ray upon the clouded feelings of her bereft pa rents. Their souls had been scorched with an guish and fear over her uncertain fate, compared to which sorrow’s most poignant pang for her early death would have been bliss unutterable. Upon reading the letter, Mr. and Mrs. Todd felt it to be an imperative duty to ascertain the truth of their suspicions, and they determined to accompany Frank on his return home. Carefully concealing their views from Aliene, and determining not to divulge their suspicions even to their brother, until satisfied they had reached some unmistakeable clue to her life’s history, they made preparations for the journey. Aliene, with the expectation and delight so nat ural to youth, in any sudden and great change in the quiet of tlieir lives, was restless and hap py—glancing about with busy brain and nimble fingers, retarding, in her excitement and joy, ra ther than progressing tlieir arrangements. CHAPTER XI. ‘The day drags through, though storms keep out the sun; And thus the heart will break, yet brokenly lire on /*’ With watchful forethought, the little garments that Aliene had worn on the night of her advent into their home had been carefully preserved.— Mrs. Todd now removed them from tho drawer, where, neatly folded, they had lain these long,long years, and placed them in her own trunk. The little colored dress, the delicately fine linen, (with her name, “Aliene,”) now grown yellow with time, told a harrowing tale of life’s changes and sorrows, and might now serve as a clue in devel oping the mystery of her life’s history. The journey was accomplished at length, and the long separated brother and sister met in a warm and close embrace. Years, with their many changes and variations, had rolled away since their hands had been clasped in affection's pressure; and tears and smiles chased each other, like tho twin sisters, Pleasure and Pain, who ever linger in each other’s tread, in varied scenes of life. When Aliene was introduced, Mr. Drayton started suddenly, and after drawing her to his heart in an affectionate embrace, held her out at arm’s length, and playfully stroking back her hair, exclaimed : “Black eyes, eh ? Where did she get them, sister ? Yours are the true Dray ton’s, blue as the sky. But you needn’t blush so, Aliene; they are the brightest I ever saw, and will do execution one of these days—and, dark hair tool why she looks like a little gipsy— and a beauty, too,” whispered he, —“but take her, Frank, into the garden, and she and the girls will soon become fast friends.” Several days glided on in the enjoyment of the hapfyr reunion, so unexpectedly vouchsafed to the long separated relatives ; and various mat ters were discussed, but the subject that lay nearest the hearts of the kind couple was not touched upon. One morning Mr. Drayton, looking up from his book, said: “Sister, there is something in Aliene’s face that strongly reminds me of one of my most interesting parishioners; or it may be her name, which is so peculiar, that whenev er I hear it, the dark eyes of my poor friend seem before me suffused with tears. Where did you find the name ? There is no Drayton called ‘Aliene’T—and Mr. Todd has no sister, and his mother’s name was Sarah. Is it a fancy name? or did you call your little girl after a friend ? I would like dear Mrs. Moreland to see her, if the sound of her name be not too painful, or recall too vividly her own miserable calamity.” Mrs. Todd did not immediately reply, and Mr. Drayton, being interrupted at that moment, the subject was not again resumed. The next day was Sunday, and the clergyman and his family left at an early hour for church. Among them was the happy Aliene —her dark hair cast back from her smooth brow, with a mild grace—her sparkling eye subdued into softness by the long fringe that swept her check, and her elastic step springing with the buoyan cy of youth, in her onward tread to the temple of the Most High. The services were especially interesting.— The whole congregation was rapt in motionless attention by the persuasive eloquence of the fervid preacher. The trials of life —its uncer tainty—its unrepaying toil—its long unrest — the unreality of its short-lived joys—were touched upon with a truthfulness and pathos that thrilled every listening ear, moved every sub dued heart and brought the tear-drop to many a saddened eye. Aliene, in the pauses of the discourse, noticed the earnest gaze of a very lovely but sad look ing woman fixed upon her with a strange ex pression of interest. The consciousness of ob servation, to her girlish spirit, sent the rich color to her cheek, with a more vivid glow, and caused her to droop, in instinctive modesty, the soft lash of her speaking eye. Her profile and grace ful young figure, as the light from the chancel window streamed in upon hor, was like some exquisite marble statue—some embodied perfec tion of Grecian art —which a Promethean spark had touched into life and color. The flutter oc casioned to her feelings by the earnest eye of the mournful, motionless gazer by her side, was agitating and painful. Presently a deep moan broke in upon the im passioned eloquence of the glowing speaker, and a stir through the congregation swayed and agi tated the thronged aisles. Whispers floated around, “a lady has fainted”—“bring water” —“a fan”—“lay her gently back” —“oh I it is Mrs. Moreland 1 poor woman, her health is so delicate; her nerves are so unstrung:” Her husoand bore her out into the air; and in a few moments the receded color came back to her pallid cheek, and she faintly murmured, “Home, home, ob, take me home.” Aliene, in the excitement and sympathy of her ardent young spirit, had drawn near with the throng that pressed around the fainting form— and as the reviving invalid slowly unclosed her eyes, they fell upon her graceful, bending young figure,and a glance from her dark eye beamed full upon her lovely glowing face. Like an electric spark, the mother’s eye flashed, down into the clear depths of her child's with an instinctive , tn stantaneovs recognition, and as a rush of deep emotion overwhelmed her heart, with the low cry “ My child, my child,” she sank again into in sensibility. chapteb xii. “I say the tale as ’twas said to me." Reader, the above is no fancy sketch , but the truthful narrative of a little girl, who was stolen by Indian vindictiveness, in retaliation for the accidental death of his young son, on the premi ses of one of the white settlers, and who, after years of separation, by a chain of simple and na tural events was restored to the despairing hearts of her parents. Through the intervention and conscientious feeling of a young Indian boy, she was spared the prolongation of a life amid savage scenes, and placed in the fostering hands of kind protec tors. This little girl, whose strange story exci ted so peculiar and thrilling an interest years ago, is no longer the happy , light-hearted Aliene. Her later life was deeply steeped in the “bap tism of sorrow,” but over the betrayed heart, the wronged affection?, the wounded spirit, let us draw a veil, for with such sorrows “the stranger intermeddleth not.” Her dark hair is now put soberly away from her soft faqp, its luxuriant beauty confined in the gossamer meshes of the snowy, widow's cap, which shades her meek brow, and the calm, sad countenance, in its elevated and spiritualized beauty. At lierfeet sits another Aliene, who,with eager ear, and quiet spirit, is never wearied with the recital of her singular and interesting story, never failing in her childish sympathy with the grateful affection of her gentle mother, for her adopted parents, and her admiration for her no ble-hearted rescuer, the Indian Yula. [the end.] — — EDIBLE BIBBS’ NESTS. There is a curious food product whiefcis in high repute in China, the edible nest of a species of swallow, extensively obtained in some of the islands of the Eastern Archipelago. These nests are attached to the sides of rocks like those of our martin and swallow to walls, and look like so many watch-pockets. The eggs are white, with a slight pinkish tinge, and are generally two in number. The nests are either white, red, or black, and the natives maintain that these are built by three distinct species, with a white, red, and black breast; but this is erroneous. The subjoined accouuts furnish the most detailed information known respecting tho trade and collection in these birds’ nests. The following description of tho birds' nests rocks, in the district of Karang Bollong, on the southerly sea-coast of Java, is given in the first volume of the Journal of the Indian Archipela go, published at Singapore: “ The gathering of theso nests takes place three times a year—in the end of April, the middle of August, and in December. The year ly produo* is commonly between 50 and 60 piculs of 133 | lbs. avoirdupois each. The business of collection is opened with great cere mony by the natives. By the assistance of lad ders and stages made of rattan, the collectors descend the rocks and cliffs provided with tho requisite bags to contain the nests, which are taken mom tho wall by the hand, and those which are on the roof by an iron hook made fast to a long bamboo. The birds feed upon different kinds of bloodless insects, hovering above tho stagnant waters, for which their wide open beak is very useful. They form their nests by vomit ing the strongest and best fragments of tho food which they have eaten. The nests are weighed and packed in hampers (of 25 catties each) and labelled with the net weight, mark of the over seer, Ac., and then further preserved and secur ed with scrips of bark, leaves, and matting. “ The edible birds’ nests, which owe their celebrity only to tho whimsical luxury of the Chinese, are brought principally from Java and Sumatra, though they are found on most of the rocky islets of the Indian Archipelago. The nest is the habitation of a small swallow, named (from the circumstance of having an edible house) llirundo eseulenta. They are composed of a mucilaginous substance, but as yet they havo never been analyzed with sufficient accuracy to show the constituents. Externally, they resem ble il-concocted, fibrous isinglass, and are of a white color inclining to red. Their thickness is little more than that of a silver spoon, and the weight from a quarter to a half an ounce. When dry they are brittled and wrinkled; the size is nearly that of a goose egg. Those that are dry, white, and clean, are the most valuable. They are packed in bundles, with split rattans run through them to preserve the shape. Those procured after the young are fledged, are not saleable in China. The quality of the nest va ries according to the situation and extent of the caves, and the time at which they are taken.— If procured before the young are fledged, the nests are of the best kind; if they contain eggs only they are still valuable; but if the young are in the nests, or havo left them, the whole are then nearly worthless, being dark-colored, streak ed with blood, and intermixed with feathers and dirt. These nests are procurable twice every year; the best are found in deep, damp caves, which, if not injured, will continue to produce indefinitely. It was once thought that the caves near the sea-coast were the most productive, but some of tho most profitable yet found are situated fifty miles in the interior. This fact seems to be against the opinion that tho nests are com posed of tho spawn of fish, or of beche-de-mer." The method of procuring these nests is not unattended with danger. Some of the caves are so precipitous, that no one but those accustomed to the employment from their youth can obtain nests, being only approachable by a perpendicu lar descent of many hundred feet, by ladders of bamboo and rattan, over a sea rolling violently against the rocks. When the mouth of the cave is attained, tho perilous task of taking the nests must often be performed by torchlight, by pene trating into recesses of tho rock, where the slightest slip would be instantly fatal to the ad venturers, who see nothing below them but tho turbulent surf making its way into the chasms of the rock —such is the price to gratify luxury. After the nests are obtained, they are separated from feathers and dirt, are carefully dried and packed, and are then fit for the market. The Chinese, who are the only people that purchase them for their own use, bring them in junks to this market, where they command extravagant prices; the best, or white kind, often being worth $4,000 per picul, (a Chinese weight, equal to 133£ lbs. avoirdupois,) which is nearly twice their weight in silver. The middling kind is